If there’s one thing Kevin Gates is gonna do, it’s speak recklessly with his whole chest. Whether it’s launching into wild TMI stories mid-interview or turning his concerts into Rated-R re-enactments, Gates has gone viral more times than a TikTok dance challenge. This time, though? He’s trending for the wrong reason: trying to take a shot at Savannah James and her marriage to LeBron.
Don’t piss LeBron off
On April 19, Gates hopped on Instagram and delivered a three-minute bedtime soliloquy straight out of the “What Are You Even Talking About?” book. The narrative of his story focused on LeBron James, his wife Savannah, and…how white women look at James?
“He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game, but I wouldn’t want to trade places with him,” said Gates, re-enacting his response to why he wouldn’t want to be in James’ shoes despite the basketball player’s net worth being much higher than his.
Why does Gates feel this way? “Because I don’t like the way Savannah look at LeBron. I like the way them white women look at LeBron. As soon he walks out there, they just be like [gawks in amazement],” said Gates, suggesting Savannah should act more like a fan in awe of her husband.
But the rant didn’t end there—Gates had thoughts on James’ teammates not being appreciative enough, either. “I notice, when he go to do the handshake with the main player on his team, you act like I’m bothering you—bitch…I couldn’t do it, bruh. His spirit is so loving and giving. It hurt me to see that. You dive on the floor behind that n****, man.”
Two days later, James posted pics of him and his wife boo’d up with the caption ““Kings don’t concern themselves with the opinions of peasants.” Where to next Queen?!?! Let’s get it!” Meanwhile, Savannah responded with a simple yet effective Nicki Minaj meme.
Rather than log off like a normal person who could tell their advice was unsolicited, Gates followed up with another IG video from his car (the universal sign that someone’s about to say something they’ll regret).
In a new video posted the same day as James’ post seemingly defending Savannah, Gates said, “The truth hurts, but it heals. Bron, I love you ’cause you my n**** and I already know she was like, ‘You gonna let him say that!’ As long as you being celebrated, that’s all I care about you. I don’t care if I gotta fall out with somebody that I love to get the results.”
Twitter, TikTok, and every group chat with Wi-Fi immediately sided with James (which isn’t a surprise, considering ball fans are diehard). Yet in an audacious move, Kevin Gates sat courtside at the Lakers’ playoff game versus the Timberwolves on April 22 with Brittany Renner. But unlike Stephen A. Smith, who made controversial comments about LeBron’s son Bronny, Gates did not have a confrontational courtside moment with LeBron.
